Fastener for coffin-lids



(No Model.) L. L. FLETCHER.

FASTENER FOR GOPPIN LIDS.

PatentedMay 11, 1897.

Ls W H) m .6. Z k w UNrrED STATES PATENT OFF CE.

LEVI L. PLETCHER,OF MALTA, OHIO.

FASTENER FOR COFFlN-LIDS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 582,224, dated May 11, 1897.

Application filed April 27., 1896.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEVI L. FLETCHER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Malta, in the county of Morgan and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Fastener for Coffi n-Lids of which the following is a specifloat-ion.

This invention relates to fastening devices for coffin-lids; and the object in View is to provide a simple and efficient spring-catch adapted to be secured to the under side of the lid and adapted to spring automatically into engagement with a keeper or escutcheon on the edge of the casket by giving the lid a slight longitudinal movement relatively to the casket, the said catch also having provision whereby it may be readily disengaged from its keeper for allowing the lid to be removed.

The invention consists in an improved fastener for coffinlids, embodying certain novel features and details of construction, as hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the drawings, and finally pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectionthrough a sufficient portion of a burial-case to illustrate the application of the improved catch thereto. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the catch or fastener constructed from a single piece of wire. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective View of the fastener and keeper or escutcheon-plate disassociated. Fig. 5 is. a detail perspective view of the tongue applied to the foot of the case.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, 1 designates the improved fastening device. One member of this fastener is constructed entirely from wire, which may be of any desired gage necessary to impart the desired strength and elasticity to the .completed fas tener. The wire blank from which the fastener is formed is bent at one extremity to form an eye 2 for one of the securing-screws. The blank is then inclineddownward the desired distance and recurved at the point 3 and extended back in substantially parallel relation, thus forming a spring -tongue 4.

Serial No. 589,2 '74. N0 model.)

Upon reaching the horizontal plane of the initial eye 2 the blank is bent to form an eye 5, then extended under and across itself to the opposite side of the tongue 4, where it is again given one complete coil to form another eye 6, just opposite to the eye 5, all of 'said eyes beingintended to receive the screws or other fastenings by which the device is attached to the lid of the casket. The blank is now extended forward longitudinally in' substantially the horizontal plane of the eyes to form a spring arm or finger 7, and the extremity of such arm or finger is recurved or given a U-shaped bend 8, adapted to engage a catch-lip on the keeper oresoutcheon. The extremity of the blank is now extended downward, as at 9, and then formed with a horizontally-disposed loop 10, thus establishing a finger-hold by which the fastener may be manipulated.

The fastening device described is applied to the under side of the lid, two of such devices being employed at the head of the casket and recesses being formed in the lid to admit the spring arms or fingers when the catches are lifted.

The keeper or escutcheon 11 is attached to the upper edge of the casket at a suitable point to be engaged by the fastener above described, and is formed, essentially, with a slot or opening 12 to receive the springtongue 4, and also provided at or near its outer edge with a catch-lip 13, having a vertical face and an inclined face, as shown, whereby it is adapted to engage and hold the arm or fingers 7 or the recurved portion 8 thereof. .Other fasteners are arranged at the foot of the casket upon each side, and such fasteners (indicated at 14) are counterparts of the fasteners above described in so far as the spring-tongue and the eyes 1, 5, and 6 are concerned. The rest of the fastener is omitted as being unnecessary, while the keepers or escutcheons are correspondingly formed.

The lid is placed over the casket and the several tongues 4 are brought into engagement with their respective openings in the keepers. By now moving the lid longitudinally toward the foot of the casket the catches 8 of the head-fastenings ride over the catchlips 13 of the keepers and finally spring behind the same. It will now be impossible to remove the lid without pressing upward on the finger-holds 10, but when this is done the spring arms or fingers 7 are lifted out of engagement with the keepers, and by then moving the lid longitudinally toward the head of the casket all of the spring-tongues 4: may be disengaged from the keepers and the lid entirely removed.

By the construction described considerable elasticity is imparted to the tongues 4, so that when the lid is in place said tongues will bear upward beneath their keepersand serve by their tension to hold the lid firmly to its seat, and this will also prevent any tendency of the fasteners to become accidentally disengaged.

The fastening device above described is'extremely simple, may be manufactured at very slight cost, and will be found reliable and convenient in use. 7

It will be apparent thatchanges in the form proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described the invention,'\vhat is claimed as new is- 1. The combination with an escutcheon-plate provided with an opening and having at its outer edge an upWardly-projccting triangu- 2. A fastener for coiiin-l-ids, made from a single Wire blank, bent at suitable points to form eyes for the receptionof fasteners and also bent to form a downwardly-inclining sprin g-ton gue for engagement with the keeper or escutcheon, the blank being extended longitudinally to form a spring-arm the extremity of which is bent'to engage with the keeper, said arm being also extended laterally to form a finger-hold by which the catch or fastener may be manipulated, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

LEVI L. FLETCHER.

\Vitnesses: I

J ESSE TIMMS, AARON DEWEEs. 

